WorldLabs Elevating Ideas Competition

WorldLabs’ aim is to help ideas develop and grow by providing the funding, tools and connections needed. To celebrate the launch of their platform they are holding a competition that will award £50k to the most innovative idea from any field! The top 10 applicants will have the opportunity to pitch at a large startup conference in October. The competition is a great opportunity to gain publicity, valuable connections and an opportunity to work on and grow your idea through the platform.

‘Bringing together the region’s innovators, entrepreneurs and investors’

Venturefest North West brings together the region’s innovators, entrepreneurs and investors. It’s an ideal opportunity to connect with people from around the region, find growth opportunities and be inspired. The event is a mix of speakers, workshops, exhibitors and networking opportunities.

At the centre of the event is the Innovation Showcase Competition. The competition is the perfect opportunity for North West businesses to promote their latest products, services and innovations to an audience of potential customers, partners and funders. There are four categories – Product Innovation, Service Innovation, Digital Innovation, and Innovative Established Business. Shortlisted businesses will present at the event. Winners will receive business support packages worth thousands of pounds.

Be part of the launch of Dan Ghita’s business.

From student to business owner – Dan Ghita and the story of finding your calling through people.

Dan Ghita is a Lancaster University first degree graduate with an interesting story behind becoming a business owner. Having moved to the UK 4 years ago, he has gone from working for IBM as a salesman to crossing Europe on his bike, and most recently starting a cycling tour business. Join him to celebrate the launch of Velo Holidays and to hear how people drove him to become an entrepreneur.

Fill in our feedback survey for a chance to win a £25 book token!

With the end of the academic year upon us, The Enterprise Team are very keen to gather feedback on your experiences of our activities over the 2017-18 academic year. To do this, we have created a simple, short survey which should take no longer that 10 minutes to complete. We would really appreciate your help with this, as feedback is vital to the development of our future offering.

If you complete the survey and are happy to provide your name and email address, you will be entered into a prize draw to win a £25 National Book Token. Terms and Conditions of the prize draw are outlined below:

Terms and Conditions for Feedback Survey Prize Draw 2018

The Prize and Draw

The prize will be a £25 National Book Token, this gift card is bound by its own Terms & Conditions which you can access here. We will not give a cash equivalent. Please note that contrary to the Terms and Conditions, this card must be used 24 months from the purchase date which was in December 2017.

Entries will close at midnight on the 19/08/18 and a winner will be drawn on the 20/08/18. The closing date is however subject to change. Notification through our website and social media will be provided if the date is changed.

All entries will be entered into a spreadsheet and allocated a number. A random number generator will be used to select the winner.

Our decision will be final. The winner will be notified by email as early as possible following the draw on the 20/08/18.

If the winner does not respond within 7 days of the notification email, a new winner will be drawn and the same steps will be followed until the prize is claimed.

The Enterprise Team reserve the right to stipulate further limitations in the selection of this gift card in order to facilitate a decision.

Eligibility

For entry into the draw you must:

Have completed the survey to a substantial level which will be of help to The Enterprise Team. The standard of entries will be determined by members of the The Enterprise Team.

Have completed the survey by midnight on the 19/08/18.

Have attended Enterprise Team activities at Lancaster University over the 2017-18 academic year, The Enterprise Team will verify each entry against records.

Participants are limited to one entry per person.

Must provide your name and email address, meaning that the completion of this survey will not be anonymous.

Brilliant business idea which could work on eBay?

The Guardian Labs and eBay are looking for 15 individuals or teams of two with an exciting new idea or one which is already in development to join their new eBay Doers scheme.

The chosen entrepreneurs will receive 10 weeks of mentorship from a leading industry expert and £500 PayPal credit to help build their business, a photoshoot for their product and additional support and promotion on eBay worth over £200.

“Creativity will increasingly be the defining human talent”

I have read a few articles recently on the importance of creativity for the future of the economy and workforce and how we need to design an education that fits future needs.

With increasing levels of mechanisation associated with advances in technology, a number of jobs are at risk of automation, even jobs such as coding will likely soon be quicker done by machines. As a result, greater emphasis is being placed on developing creativity within today’s children as this is something which machines won’t be able to do. So, whilst we should embrace and take advantage of the incredible capabilities of technology, we should also be working to strengthen our uniquely human qualities.

Ethical business is booming

The ethical goods market in the UK has quadrupled in size since 2000 and millennials appear more willing to pay for and choose brands doing social or environmental good. However, making money ethically is not always easy, many will not have profit at the forefront of their minds but as chief exec of Cafédirect John Steel explains, ‘financial sustainability is paramount.’ Other aspects such as recruiting the right people, who share the same values as the business are also vital.

The article is a very interesting read with a number of ethical business examples discussed, including the Big Issue, the Ethical Landlords Association and Brighton supermarket hiSbe. You can read the full article on The Guardian’s website.

The Enterprise Team would like to invite students, staff and alumni to attend a special panel event with three of Lancaster University’s Entrepreneurs in Residence. The session will be run as a Q&A, so come prepared to quiz the panel, find out about their experiences and ask for advice on setting up your own venture! Even though the entrepreneurs run businesses predominantly in the engineering and IT sectors, their knowledge about what it takes to run and start up a successful business will be valuable to all aspiring entrepreneurs.

Optima Control Solutions is an expert industrial control systems company, supplying systems and services to companies from multiple sectors, in numerous countries, helping them to improve their processes, productivity and ultimately their profitability.

Westlakes Engineering is a consultancy providing civil, structural , environmental and attraction safety services. The company has grown quickly since it started in 2004, by establishing a reputation for providing a high quality, professional service to a wide range of clients.

Mark has had a varied career in catering, engineering and even 12 years as a Police Officer – all this before setting up his own IT company. Vertigo Solutions Ltd provide a variety of IT support solutions to a range of markets from manufacturing to education and healthcare.

Come and seek advice from experienced entrepreneurs within the recruitment and food sector who have been there and done it!

We are excited to welcome two entrepreneurs next week for open discussions about their experiences in business and to share their advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Take a look at Wayne and Michelle’s profiles below and follow the Target Connect links to book onto either (or both!) of the sessions. Both sessions will take place in Learning Zone Pod 4.

Once Wayne got a taste for working in recruitment for a large firm he soon realised that he could make quicker strides forward working for himself and thus founded Cast UK in 2005. Cast UK are a specialist recruitment consultancy focusing on roles within procurement, purchasing, supply chain, logistics & transport. The company has grown year on year and now employs 30 people, with plans to double that number by the end of the year!

Michelle Partington founded Lakeland Picnic in 2006. Based in the Lake District, the aim of the company was to provide simple and delicious food through the use of some of the finest regional ingredients; served in street locations with a thoughtful and considered approach to customer needs. Michelle has also more recently established Shellys Drinks Ltd – originators of blended alcoholic drinks, supplying retailers and bars.

Coffee and a chat with an experienced entrepreneur

This week sees the first of our new weekly Enterprise ‘Clinics’ with entrepreneur Richard Baguley (LinkedIn).

Richard is Managing Director of GDR Public Relations and has 25 years’ experience in the PR & Communications industry for major blue chip brands. Richard is also a part-time tutor within the Lancaster University Management School.

This drop-in session will be a chance for you to come along and pick Richard’s brains – whatever stage you may be at please come along to have a chat with Richard about your idea, seek advice or discuss your progress.

We are looking to host this clinic with Richard on a weekly basis, rotating around campus locations. This week it will be hosted in Bowland Bar on Friday (4th May), 2-4pm. Let us know if you’re coming via email or Target Connect! Future dates will be added to our calendar as and when they are confirmed.